Device for injectively treating plants



Jan. 26, 1943. w. HECl-'IT DEVICE FOR INJECTIVELY TREA'TING PLANTS Original Filed April 29, 1938 www www? WHL TER HEC/1 T ff .n

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 2,309,391 DEVICE FOR INJECTIVELY TREATING PLANTS Walter Hecht, Loka Pri vested in the Alie Original application A 205,104. Divided and this 1941, Serial Bulgaria April 14 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for injecting substances into plants and aims to provide an It constitutes a divisional part of the invention described in my co-pending Serial No. 205,104, filed April 29, 1938, (now U. S.

and rational way under tion conditions.

In order to secure of such spores.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple device for performing the intended described work, which is easy and convenient to handle inv use.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device which can be inexpensively conunder controllable regulation, eliminating the likelihood of leakage with resultant wastage of the liquid.

Other objections, as well as the broad concept and particular advantages of the invention, will Zidanemostu, Jugoslavia;

n Property Custodian pril 29, 1938, Serial No.

application April 11, In Austria and (Cl. l17-575) In said drawing:

Fig, l is a longitudinal section representation of the device embodiment, made in the form of a pistol carrying needles as the puncturing and injecting means;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail View illustrating a modicational form of the needles constituting a part of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of Fig. 2, taken on the line 3-3 thereof; kand Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a storage container for the germ-carrying liquid which may be connected to the device of Fig. 1 for continuously supplying the same.

In the illustrative embodiment, having `reference rst to Fig. 1, 5 indicates a Vplurality of pricking means consisting of hollow needles, and indicates a distributing passage ,ina head plate 1 to which said needles .are attached. This pricking-means tting or part of the device is interchangeably mounted as by screwing on one end of a cylinder 8, which together with the plunger S constitutes a pump, the output of .which ateach stroke may constitute a charge or A spring closes the valve vI l when the pressure is released. A suction valve |74, which is closed automatically by a spring means i5, islocated adjacent (above) the cylinder 8 in the passage between theufeed tube I6, leading from a supply vessel (later described) and achamber I .1 which communicates through an aperture I8 with vthe Working space i of the pump. The cubical capacity of the cham-'ber IJ preferably corresponds to a multiple of single charges or quantity of liquid which may be delivered on each working stroke of the pump. Accordingly, there will always be in the chamber I1 a ,certain feed from the storage vessel. For the operation of the plunger 9, an actuating member 9 is provided, which is pivoted at 36. A shorter lever arm -20 of said actuating member -|9 is operatively connected at 2| with z rM? shaped like a pistol grip and with the actuating" member I9 constituting a trigger-like element, the head plate 1 with the picking needles 5 being mounted at the forward end of the cylinder 8 forming a barrel-like part. A metal plate 21 in this instance connects the handle 25, advantageously made of wood, with the cylinder 8. The cylinder, pumping means and other parts of the pump, including the head plate and pricking means, are all advantageously made metal.

If the chamber I1 and the cylinder or barrel 8 are charged with the germinal liquid and the device is directed against the plant in such a way that the needles are inserted into the tissues of the plant to be treated, then actuation of the actuating member I9 in the direction of the arrow 28, towards the handle 23 (like pulling the trigger of a pistol), will cause the plunger 9 to displace the quantity of liquid required for a single charging of the needles 5 and thereby presses the germinal liquid into the tissue of the plant. When the actuating member I9 is released, the tensioned spring 23 effects the return movement of the parts I9 and 9 to the initial operation position shown in Fig. 1. During this return movement of the plunger 9, liquid is drawn up into the chamber I1, which is connected to the working space I0 by the aperture I8, around the open suction valve I4 from the pipe I6 and the connected supply vessel or storage container previously mentioned, said container being attached to said pipe I5, as indicated but not actually shown by Figs. 1 and 4. Adjustable means are provided for the regulation of the quantity of liquid drawn in and delivered. Said means consists of two or more holes 29 arranged at varying distances from the pivot 2l connecting the lever arm with the rod 22. By changing the position of the pivoting pin 3S from one to the other of these holes, the ratio between the lever arms of the trigger-like actuating member I9 may be altered in a simple manner.

The injecting needles in the head plate 1 of the device may be variously constructed, the only essential requirement being that they are able to receive and retain the requisite quantity of the germinal liquid used. 1n the modification illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the pricking means consists of an element 55 having a prong tip 55e, an enlarged or bulbous head 55", and longitudinal grooves 55c on the periphery of the latter for the reception and retention of the requisite quantity of liquid to be used in treating the plants, said grooves 55c communicating with the distributing means 6 of the injecting device through a feed channel 55d similarly to the hollow needles 5 in Fig. 1.

The separate container attached for supply of the germinal liquid may comprise a tank 3| such as shown in Fig. 4, the same-being equipped with means for putting the contents under pressure, for the purpose of ensuring continuous and steady flow of the feed to the device. Said tank is advantageously made of metal and formed with an outlet nozzleh?V for connection with the tube It,-

the latter being preferably of flexible material such as rubber, and leading direct to the injecting device. In the cover of said container, a filling nozzle or neck 33 is provided, which is adapted to be closed by means of a screw cap 34. The tank also has means for putting its contents under pressure, which, in the present instance, consists of a valve similar to the valve of a bicycle tire. This is shown to comprise an inner valve member 35 sheathed in a short rubber tube 36, which is inserted in the valve stem 31 connected to the tank 3| by a nut 38. A screw cap for securing the inner valve member 35 in position is represented at 39. The connecting branch or nipple $0 of the valve member 35 is provided with screw threading. After unscrewing a cap 4I thereon, a pump, such .as a bicycle pump, nected to the branch or nipple 45, and thereby the air above the liquid inside of the container 3l may be put under pressure.

The means used for putting the germinal liquid under pressure within the storage tank may of course comprise some other suitable device or facility, and may be attached at any other part of the tank, such as at or to the closure cap 34.

The device of the invention is simple and reliable in construction, is convenient to hold in the hand, and enables the work of pricking and rapidly and with entire accuracy of aim. Said device may be used as follows: The operator, passing from plant to plant in the breeding ground or field, grasps and introduces the germinal matter into selected plants as required by pressing the needles into the stalk or branch thereof deep enough to penetrate the tissues, and then operating the actuating member to force the liquid into said tissues through said needles. Performing this operation by one hand, the operator has his other hand available to grasp and hold a suitable countersupport behind the stalk or branch, which counter-support will preferably be in the form of a pad.

The principal advantage of the inventive apparatus resides in the fact that the germinal matter can thereby be introduced at the desired point or place into the interior of the plant tissue by the puncturing or pricking operation. This greatly increases the reliability with which the desired effect will be achieved. Inasmuch as by the new apparatus the fertilization may be effected before the blossom develops or opens, the time available for the fertilization is very considerably longer and may often be many times greater than if prior known means of such injection were to be used.

A particular advantage of the invention resides in the fact that by a plurality of pricking means it is possible to introduce germinal matter into the plant simultaneously at several points. The result of such injection at several points will be that, in the rstplace, the probability of the germinal matter actually reaching the tissue to be fertilized or infected is increased, and therefore the chances of fertilization or infection being effected become greater, while, in the second place, it becomes possible to perform fertilization or infection at several points in the tissue simultaneously, so that the yield is increased while the amount of work involved is decreased.

1t will be understood that although the new device is described herein as an expedient for carrying out certain specic methods for the treatment of plants, as set forth in my aforesaid `Serial No. 205,104, (now U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,261,368, dated November 4, 1941), it is not so limited, nor is it intended to .be so construed, since the device can be used -for carrying out any other injecting operation cr process.

parent application specic form or arrangement as hereinbefore described and illustrated.l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A device for injectively treating plants, comprising in combination a combined pricking and injecting means of needle-like form, supplying and controlling means for the feed of a plant treating liquid to be introduced into the tissues of the plants through said pricking and injecting means for said liquid in direct connection with said grooved needles, a pumping device connected with said distributing means, supplying means for said liquid connected with said pumping device, and a manually actuated member operatively connected with said pumping device, said member being adapted to be adjusted in such manner that the charge of liquid delivered to said needles and introduced into the plant tissues at each operation can be Varied.

4. A device according to claim 2, in which the pumping device constitutes a plunger pump and said plunger pump has adjustable means for limiting its plunger movement, whereby the pump charge at each stroke can be varied.

5. A device according to claim 3, in which the combined pricking 3 the treatment thereof, comprising in combination a plurality of hollow needle-like members adapted to penetrate the tissues of plants to be treated and to introduce a germ-carrying liquid thereconnection with the hollows of said needle-like members, a pumping device connected with said distributing means, supplying means for said a manually actuated member op# era-tively `connected with said pumping device.

8.V A device for injecting liquid into plants in the treatment thereof, comprising in combination a plurality of hollow needles combined as pricking and injecting means for the introduction of a germ-carrying liquid into the tissues of the plants to be treateda distributing means for said liquid 1n direct connection with the hollows of said needles, a pumping device connected with said distributing means, supplying means for ated member operatively connected with said pumping device.

9. Apparatus for treating plants having the form of a pistol, comprising in butt-shaped handle, a trigger-like actuating carrying liquid into them upon actuation of said pump.

carrying said needles, a distributing means -in said head plate for said liquid in direct connection with the hollows of said needles, a pumping device connected with said distributing means, supplying means for said liquid connected with said pumping device, and a manually actuated member operatively connected with said pumping device adapted to press said germ-carrying liquid through said needles into the tissues of plants upon actuation of said actuated member.

1l. A device for injectively treating plants in the form of a pistol, comprising in combination a butt-shaped handle and a trigger-like actuating member, a barrel-like element, a plunger pump formed as a part of said barrel-like element, supplying and controlling means for a germ-carrying liquid to said pump, said means being included in said barrel-like element, a plungerprod operatively pivoted to said actuating member and adapted to be operated thereby, a spring in said butt handle in Contact with said actuating member adapted to press said actuating member and said plunger rod in the initial operation position, a plurality of combined pricking and injecting needles adapted to penetrate the tissues of plants and introduce said germ-carrying liquid into the same, a head plate in front of said barrel-like element carrying said needles, and distributing means in said head plate communicating with said needles for the supply and distribution of said germ-carrying liquid to said needles. Y

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said actuating member constitutes a double lever,

there being at least two holes in the same at different distances from the pivoting point of the plunger rod, a pivot pin connected to the pistol body adapted to iit into either of said holes in an interchangeable manner, whereby the length of the lever arm of the actuating member and thereby the stroke of the plunger can be varied.

13. A device for injectively treating plants, comprising in combination with at least one combined pricking and injecting means of needle-like form, supplying and controlling means for the feed of a germ-carrying liquid to be introduced into the tissues of the plants to be treated by said pricking and injecting means, said supplying and controlling means being connected with said pric 'ng and injecting means, an actuating member operatively connected with said controlling means, which is adapted to limit the amount of said germ-carrying'liquid injected into said tissues at each operation, a separate storage container for the germ-carrying liquid, a tube or pipe connected with said container for communicating with said supplying means, and a pressure valve in said storage container adapted to be connected with a pressure means for applying pressure to the interior of said container.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the storage container is provided with a valve for applying pressure therein to the supplied liquid, said valve being of ordinary bicycle tire Valve type.v

WALTER HECHT. 

